Two men die at Vail

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VAIL, Colorado - Two men, both in their 60s, died Sunday at Vail Mountain in separate incidents.

The first happened around 7:25 a.m., when Vail Ski Patrol responded to a "medical incident" involving a man who was hiking up the Born Free trail on Vail Mountain prior to the mountain opening for the ski day.

Vail Mountain released a statement Sunday that said ski patrol provided advanced life support and transported the patient to an awaiting ambulance. He was then transported to the Vail Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, the statement said.

Then, at about 9:48 a.m., ski patrol received another call about a separate medical incident on the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Paramedics responded to the top of the gondola and provided advanced life support while transporting the man to an ambulance in Lionshead. That man also was pronounced dead at the Vail Valley Medical Center, according to the statement.

Eagle County Coroner Kara Bettis said one of the men who died was Douglas Voisard, 63, who went by the nickname "Blues." He was a local resident, she said, but she did not say where exactly Voisard lived.

The other man was 61 and from Denver. Bettis said that man's next-of-kin had not yet been notified as of Sunday late afternoon, and therefore, she would not release his name.

Voisard's autopsy is scheduled for Monday, after which Bettis said she'd have more information on the cause of death. Bettis said she can't comment on cause of death until both autopsies are complete. She also would not comment on whether the deaths were accidents or naturally caused, although Vail Mountain initially reported the men both suffered cardiac arrest.

The Vail Ski Patrol and Vail Resorts family said via the statement that they "extend their deepest sympathy and support to the families and friends of the two men."